Polarized relay



y 24, 1966 J. FISCHER ETAL 3,253,102

POLARIZED RELAY Filed Sept. 4, 1963 United States Patent 3,253,102 PQLARIZED RELAY Josef Fischer, Herbert Krautwald, and Erwin Miiller, Munich, Germany, assignors to Siemens and Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin and Munich, Germany, a corporation of German Filed Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 306,508

Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 7, 1962,

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-93) The present invention relates to a polarized relay having a hermetically sealed contact arangement, which satisfies, among others, the following requirements, namely, it shall be adapted for simple manufacture, provide for high switching frequency, and the subassembly comprising the contact circuit shall be at any time replaceable in simple manner.

The last-mentioned requirement is particularly important, since the life of such a relay is not determined by wear in the energizing circuit or permanent-magnet circuit, but solely by Wear at the switch contacts. While it is possible to obtain an increase in the operating time of a relay, by hermetically sealing the contacts, such measure does not increase the life of the relay to the extent which is frequently required in practice. This is true in particular when circuits having inductance or capacitance must be switched, or when, for operating reasons, optimum spark-quenching cannot be applied.

The requirement set forth above can be realized in the case of a polarized relay with hermetically sealed contact arrangement, by providing the energizing circuit, permanent-magnet circuit and contact circuit of the relay as separate subassemblies, whereby the adjustable contact circuit is located in a preferably rectangular replaceable I and continuously adjustable contact chamber of non-magnetic material which can be inserted between the energizing circuit and the permanent-magnet circuit, and has insulating lead-throughs, and that the double-wing armaturearranged in the contact chamber is tiltably supported on one of the lead-throughs.

The breaking-down of the relay into three separate subassemblies, wherein the contact chamber can be adjusted already before assemblying, makes it possible to provide for very rational fabrication. The life of the contact arrangement, formed by the contact circuit as a subassembly which is disposed in a hermetically sealed contact chamber, is considerably increased as compared with that of customary polarized relays with exposed contacts. However, the life of the entire relay arrangement is further greatly increased by the possibility of ready replacement of the contact circuit.

The fabrication of the contact chamber is likewise very simple since the double-bladed armature arranged in such chamber is tiltably supported on one of the lead-throughs extending thereinto.

The normal or resting position of the armature can be determined prior to assembly by a preferably U-shaped torsion spring. The armature contained in the contact chamber is advantageously formed of a soft-iron sheet stiffened by bent edges. The parts used for the contact circuit and contained in the closed contact chamber are advantageously made of inorganic material.

According to another feature of the invention, the energizing circuit comprises two identically formed yoke plates which, together with a core plate, form the effective iron core of the energizing coil. In order to support the yoke plates, there may be used two side plates which are screwed to the socket of the relay.

Further details of the invention will appear from the description which is rendered below with reference to the accompanying drawing showing as an embodiment, in

3,253,102 Patented May 24, 1966 part sectional representation, a polarized relay made in accordance with the invention.

The polarized relay comprises three subassemblies including the means forming respectively the energizing circuit, the permament-magnet circuit and the contact circuit. The energizing circuit comprises two yoke plates 7 and 8 which, by overlapping with a core plate 9, required to increase the iron cross-section, form the effective iron core of the energizing coil 10. The yoke plates 7 and 8 are by notching fastened to two side plates 19, the latter being screw-connected with the base 11 of the relay. The yoke plates in turn are secured to the side plates in the embodiment illustrated by lateral projections which extend through notches in the side plates, the upper connection being illustrated in the drawings. The base 11 contains the terminal pins 12 of the relay which can be formed as solder and/or plug terminals.

Opposite this energizing circuit is the permanent-magnet circuit which comprises the permanent magnets 15 and 16, which are fastened on a non-magnetic supporting plate. The only element that would be made of magnetic material would be the ar-mature, the respective pieces forming part of the energizing or permanent magnetic flux paths. This subassembly representing the permanent-magnet circuit is so arranged, upon the assembling of the subassemblies, seen spatially with respect to the energizing circuit, that there is obtained in operation an overlapping of the permanent flux with the energizing flux. The air gap between the permanent magnets 15 and 16 on the one hand and the pole surfaces 7a and 8a of the energizing circuit on the other hand is secured by stops carried by the side plates 19.

Between the energizing circuit and the permanent-magnet circuit, there is disposed the contact chamber 1 formed of parts made of non-magnetic material, having insulating leacl-throughs 2, 3 and 4, in which chamber there is also disposed the double-winged armature 5 which is tiltably supported on the central lead-through 3. The contact chamber 1 is made of two housing parts which are welded together and form a hermetically tight chamber. In the part of the housing facing the permanentmagnet circuit, there are soldered-in three pressure-glass lead-throughs 2, 3 and 4, the lead-through 3 simultaneously serving as support for the armature 5, while the adjustable stationary contacts 14 a and 14b are inserted in the lead-throughs 2 and 4.

The armature 5 is stiffened by bent edges 5a and is connected by means of a support element 6 with a bolt of the pressure-glass lead-through 3. The support element 6 is, for stiffening, formed as a channel profile in order to maintain its deflection as :a spring and is supported on two points with a central load. The torsion spring 6 connects the lead-through element and the armature, such spring having a channel profile which it is believed is apparent from a reference to the drawing with flat portions which are subjected to torsion forces when the armature is in either of its two positions. The current supply is effected by way of the torsion spring and the contact pieces 5b welded to the armature 5. The pressureglass lead-throughs 2 and 4 are respectively provided each with a small tube, indicated at 2a and 4a, each such tube having an inner thread, into which are screwed the respective fixed contacts 14a and 14b.

Insofar as the lead-through structure is concerned, each lead-through comprises an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve connected by insulating material, such as glass indicated with the reference numeral 13, the outer sleeve being suitably secured in sealed relation tothe adjacent wall of the contact chamber with the stationary contacts being threaded into the inner sleeve and thus adjustable from the exterior of the contact chamber and may be adjusted as a subassembly without requiring insertion into the remaining subassemblies. Following adjustment, the leads may be soldered to the end of the inner sleeves and the contact members thereby forming a connection for the leads as well as sealing the assembly at such lead-in points.

The contact circuit which is enclosed by the contact chamber 1 is so constructed that the adjustment of the armature 5 and that of the fixed or stationary contacts 14a and 14b can be elfected in an adjusting and testing device prior to the assembly of the parts to form the relay, rather than in the assembled relay. The final closing of the contact chamber is effected by soldering, at which time the position of the fixed contacts is also secured.

The contact chamber is adjustable secured by means of a tension spring 18, thus making it possible to'establish the operating air gap between the armature 5 and the pole surfaces 7a and 8a of the energizing circuit on the one hand and of the auxiliary air gap between the armature 5 and the permanent-magnets 15 and 16 on the other hand. It is for the removal of the contact chamber 1 from the relay device merely necessary to unsolder the electrical connections at the socket.

With respect to the tension spring 18, it will be noted that the positioning of the contact subassembly'is dependent upon the positioning of the screws which support the same, with the tension spring 18, in the form of a bow, which bears on the contact subassembly, firmly seating the same on the screws, with the intermediate portion bearing, for example, on the pole surfaces 7a and 8a. In this case, all that is required is that the contact subassembly be biased to the left as viewed in the drawing, whereby it is firmly seated on the screws and by tightening or loosening the position of the contact subassembly between the energizing and permanent magnet subassemblies may be readily adjusted, thereby determining the operating air gap between the armature 5 and the respective cooperable magnetic elements.

The permanent-magnet circuit and in particular the energizing circuit may be protected against external infiuences, by placing a metal cap 17 on the relay socket, the socket being in such case made in pressure-glass form, thus obtaining a hermetic closure of the entire relay.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. A polarized relay comprising separate subassemblies.

including respectively, an energizing subassembly, a permanent magnet subassembly and a contact subassembly, said energizing and said permanent magnet subassembly being arranged in fixed relation to define a space therebetween in which said contact subassembly is replaceably disposed, said contact subassembly comprising non-magnetic housing parts forming a contact chamber insulated lead-through elements extending therethrough, adjustable stationary contacts carried by respective lead-thrrough elements, and a double-winged armature supported on another lead-through element, with said contacts and armature disposed within said housing parts and forming therewith a unitary assembly, means sealing said housing parts and lead-through elements to form a hermetically sealed structure, and means detachably and adjustably supporting said contact subassembly within said space between said energizing and permanent magnet subassembly.

2. A polarized relay according to claim 1, comprising a support element operatively connecting said armature and associated lead-through element for determining the normal position of said armature prior to assembling said chamber with said energizing and permanent magnet subassemblies.

3. A polarized relay according to claim 1, wherein said armature is formed of a soft-iron plate stilTened by bent edges.

4. A polarized relay according to claim 1, wherein the energizing subassembly comprises two identical yoke plates connected by a core plate forming the effective iron core with the latter encircling said core plate of the energizing coil.

5. A polarized relay according to claim 4, wherein said yoke plates are by notching supported mechanically by means of two side plates.

6. A polarized relay according to claim 1, comprising stationary contacts which are to be actuated alternately, said contacts being screwed into respective insulating leadthroughs.

7. A polarized relay according to claim 6, wherein said stationary contacts are provided with a seal of solder, and by means of which they are held against twisting.

8. A polarized relay comprising separate subassemblies including respectively an energizing subassembly, a permanent magnet subassembly and an adjustable contact subassembly, said adjustable contact subassembly being disposed within a hermetically sealed chamber formed of parts made of non-magnetic material and provided with insulating lead-throughs which are fused into glass seals, means adjustably and replaceably disposing said contact chamber between the energizing subassembly and the permanent magnet subassembly, a double-winged armature being arranged in said contact chamber and being tiltably supported on one of the lead-throughs, said armature supporting lead-through being centrally disposed in said sealed chamber.

9. A polarized relay comprising separate subassemblies including respectively an energizing subassembly, a permanent magnet subassembly and an adjustable contact subassembly being disposed within a hermetically sealed chamber formed of parts made of non-magnetic material and provided with insulating lead-throughs, means adjustably and replaceably disposing said contact chamber between the energizing subassembly and the permanent magnet subassembly, a double-winged armature being arranged in said contact chamber and being tiltably supported on one of the lead-throughs, said adjustable means including a spring interleaved between said contact subassembly and an adjacent subassembly determining the air gaps of the relay, said armature supporting leadthrough being centrally disposed in said sealed chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,702,841 2/ 1955 Bernstein 20087 3,001,049 9/ 1961 Didier 20087 X 3,118,987 1/1964 Clements 200-87 3,121,149 2/1964 Richemt 20093 3,160,714 12/1964 Else et al. 20087 X 3,161,808 12/1964 Trombolt 20087 3,182,382 5/1965 Ju-ptner 20087 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

T. D. MACBLAIN, Assistant Examiner. 

8. A POLARIZED RELAY COMPRISING SEPARATE SUBASSEMBLIES INCLUDING RESPECTIVELY AND ENERGIZING SUBASSEMBLY, A PERMANENT MAGNET SUBASSEMBLY AND AN ADJUSTABLE CONTACT SUBASSEMBLY, SAID ADJUSTABLE CONTACT SUBASSEMBLY BEING DISPOSED WITHIN A HERMETICALLY SEALED CHAMBER FORMED OF PARTS MADE OF NON-MAGNET MATERIAL AND PROVIDED WITH INSULATING LEAD-THROUGHS WHICH ARE FUSED INTO GLASS SEALS, MEANS ADJUSTABLY AND REPLACEABLY DISPOSING SAID CONTACT CHAMBER BETWEEN THE ENERGIZING SUBASSEMBLY AND THE PERMANENT MAGNET SUBASSEMBLY, A DOUBLE-WINGED ARMATURE BEING ARRANGED IN SAID CONTACT CHAMBER AND BEING TILTABLY SUPPORTED ON ONE OF THE LEAD-THROUGHS, SAID ARMATURE SUPPORTING LEAD-THROUGH BEING CENTRALLY DISPOSED IN SAID SEALED CHAMBER. 